McDonald's also started allowing workers to earn up to five days
of paid vacation every year, and invested in training with the
implementation of new procedures like
"ask, ask, tell" to speed up drive-thru service.

"The core frustration for customers was accuracy through
the drive-thru, which then impacts service times," McDonald's CEO
Steve Easterbrook said on an earnings call in April. "I can't
even tell you how detailed the team has got to help our
restaurant teams get it right more often."

The training and wage investments have had a significant impact
on customer service, according to Easterbrook.

He said the changes "have resulted in lower crew turnover and
higher customer satisfaction scores ... and we are gaining share
relative to the [fast-food] sandwich segment."

Customer satisfaction scores were up 6% in the first quarter,
compared to the same period last year, he said.

The wage investments only affected employees at
company-owned restaurants — which represents just 10% of
McDonald's US restaurants, or about 90,000 employees.

But many McDonald's franchisees likely followed suit with their
own wage increases. In a survey last year, several operators said
they felt
pressure to raise employee pay in the aftermath of the
McDonald's wage announcement.

While the company is making progress with its investments in
employees, labor groups say the chain hasn't done nearly enough.